Fox River Valley DAR Chapter promotes Constitution Week Sept. 17

There are two documents of paramount importance to American history: the Declaration of Independence, which forged our national identity, and the United States Constitution, which set forth the framework for the federal government that is still in use today. While Independence Day is a beloved national holiday, fewer people know about Constitution Week, an annual commemoration of the living document that upholds and protects the freedoms central to our American way of life. This year, the annual celebration begins Sept. 17.

The Daughters of the American Revolution initiated the observance in 1955, when the organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate Sept. 17-23 of each year to the commemoration of Constitution Week. Congress adopted the resolution, and on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into Public Law #915. The celebration's goals are threefold: to encourage the study of the historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787; to inform people that the Constitution is the basis of America's great heritage and the foundation of our way of life; and to emphasize U.S. citizens' responsibility to protect, defend and preserve the Constitution.

DAR has been the foremost advocate for the awareness, promotion and celebration of Constitution Week. This annual observance provides innumerable opportunities for educational initiatives and community outreach, two mission areas of crucial importance to the National Society's work.

By fostering knowledge of and appreciation for the Constitution and the inalienable rights it affords to all Americans, DAR helps to keep alive the memory of the men and women who secured our nation's independence, whose bravery and sacrifice made possible the liberties we enjoy today.

"The framers created a Constitution that translated into law the ideals upon which our nation was built," said DAR President General Denise Doring VanBuren. "Their vision was so forward thinking that their words still guide us today. No American history education can be complete without a thorough understanding of the impact the Constitution has had on the lives of American citizens past and present."

The Fox River Valley Chapter NSDAR is the four-peat grand prize Winner of the DAR Spread the American Spirit Contest. The chapter hosts free genealogical workshops for prospective members to find and prove their lineage to a Revolutionary War patriot and assists with new member applications.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations.

To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.

For information on joining the DAR and assistance with the application process, contact the chapter's registrar, Joan Longmire, at (847) 961-6381 or geniejoan@comcast.net.